Deficit Commissionhttps://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/deficit-commission
Deficit Commission news and opinionen-USIt's Time for Us to Raise the Volume and Take Back Our Democracyhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-time-for-us-to-raise_b_2812359
With gridlock and malicious behavior paralyzing our government, it is now up to we, the people, to become more visible and vocal, to show Congress what needs to be done. Here are some thoughts and ideas on where we need to go from here, and how we can become involved.Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:27:14 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-time-for-us-to-raise_b_2812359https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-time-for-us-to-raise_b_2812359#commentsIt's the Simpson-Bowles Personal Profit Tour: Making Money Off the U.S. Debthttps://www.huffpost.com/leo-w-gerard/its-the-simpson-bowles-pe_b_2224742.html
The Simpson-Bowles personal profit tour reveals that for them, for their creation -- the speciously labeled Campaign to Fix the Debt -- and for the CEOs, right-wing groups and Republicans rallying round them, the effort has nothing to do with deficits or fixing anything.Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:03:50 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/leo-w-gerard/its-the-simpson-bowles-pe_b_2224742.htmlhttps://www.huffpost.com/leo-w-gerard/its-the-simpson-bowles-pe_b_2224742.html#commentsAlan Simpson, As A Senator, Said Social Security Benefits Should Not Be Cuthttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-social-security-benefits_n_2204549
Simpson co-chaired President Barack Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010, along with formerWed, 28 Nov 2012 14:58:21 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-social-security-benefits_n_2204549https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-social-security-benefits_n_2204549#commentsDeficit Reduction: The Great Distractionhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-reduction-the-gre_b_1516543
When we hear Erskine Bowles and his friends rant about the deficit this week, we should remember that once again they are distracting the public from the country's real problems. And this crew is at the center of those problems; it is not the solution.Mon, 14 May 2012 21:18:07 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-reduction-the-gre_b_1516543https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-reduction-the-gre_b_1516543#commentsThe Bowles-Simpson Medicine Show Is Back in Townhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/bowles-simpson-rejected_b_1390019
As soon as one pitch ends, another begins. So this ain't over, folks, because every good medicine-show pitchman knows: You gotta keep on offering the crowd that "grand bargain" until you wear 'em down and they buy it.Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:54:52 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bowles-simpson-rejected_b_1390019https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bowles-simpson-rejected_b_1390019#commentsTalking Point Alert!https://www.huffpost.com/entry/talking-point-alert_b_1279487
Sometimes you just get the feeling that the various people with whom you're arguing all got together a few days ago and agreed on a talking point. In almost every single debate I've had regarding the president's budget plan, when confronted with the fact that they have thus far refused to accept new tax revenues as part of a deal for deficit reduction, conservatives cry foul. To the contrary, they cry. They'd be happy with far more revenue than the $1.5 trillion called for in the president's budget. But it must come from "lowering the rates and broadening the base." So let's explore exactly what this means.Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:48:11 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/talking-point-alert_b_1279487https://www.huffpost.com/entry/talking-point-alert_b_1279487#commentsWhat the Supercommittee Really Saidhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-congress_b_1108748
See -- we're not that stupid. Wait. Maybe that should be the new slogan: "Congress -- we're not that stupid."Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:39:02 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-congress_b_1108748https://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-congress_b_1108748#commentsAmericans' Advice to the Super Committeehttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-fail_b_1105633
So here we are, after both sides cried "uncle" on this effort, with automatic spending cuts ready to go into effect that will begin the process of slashing $1.2 trillion dollars from the budget -- cuts that neither side wants.Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:44:21 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-fail_b_1105633https://www.huffpost.com/entry/super-committee-fail_b_1105633#commentsA Fateful Weekend for U.S. Fiscal Stabilityhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-fateful-weekend-for-us_b_1107574
The fate of the fiscal stability of the United States was sealed on the weekend of December 4-5, 2010.Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:14:51 -0500https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-fateful-weekend-for-us_b_1107574https://www.huffpost.com/entry/a-fateful-weekend-for-us_b_1107574#commentsCongress Should Puncture This Cartelhttps://www.huffpost.com/martha-burk/congress-should-puncture-_b_988120.html
Congress exempted Group Purchasing Organizations from anti-kickback statutes in the 1980s, in what critics say was a direct violation of anti-trust law. In the past three decades there has been no serious effort to correct this gross fleecing of patients and taxpayers.Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:46:05 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/martha-burk/congress-should-puncture-_b_988120.htmlhttps://www.huffpost.com/martha-burk/congress-should-puncture-_b_988120.html#commentsJan Schakowsky Draws Conservative Ire, Said Americans 'Don't Deserve To Keep All' Their Money (AUDIO)https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rep-jan-schakowsky-you-do_n_964504
Listen to Schakowsky's comments from the radio show here: Alternatively, the tax plan that Schakowsky proposed earlier thisThu, 15 Sep 2011 15:11:27 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rep-jan-schakowsky-you-do_n_964504https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rep-jan-schakowsky-you-do_n_964504#commentsKilling Us Softlyhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/killing-us-softly_b_961408
We're seeing the demonization of the victim everywhere. It's in the public hatred for underwater homeowners and now reaches to the highest halls of power in both parties, where we told that helping struggling homeowners would be "rewarding the undeseverving." Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:19:02 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/killing-us-softly_b_961408https://www.huffpost.com/entry/killing-us-softly_b_961408#commentsNancy Pelosi: Dems Will Be Forceful On Super Committee But Won't Draw 'Lines In The Sand'https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-super-committee_n_918296
“So what does that leave the committee to do?” Reid said. “Should Pelosi and I just not appoint and walk away?” "If theyThu, 04 Aug 2011 12:49:58 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-super-committee_n_918296https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-super-committee_n_918296#commentsWhere's the Secretary of Poverty?https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wheres-the-secretary-of-p_b_913590
Poverty in America is the most corrosive of the wars we're losing but never mention. Poverty is not merely offensive to the human condition, it is also the enemy of economic and civil stability in America.Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:12:23 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wheres-the-secretary-of-p_b_913590https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wheres-the-secretary-of-p_b_913590#commentsPresident Obama Doesn't Understand the Origins of the Deficithttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/debt-ceiling-housing_b_911342
The government's deficits were very much containable until the collapse of the housing bubble sank the economy. It was the economic collapse that gave us large deficits.Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:26:58 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/debt-ceiling-housing_b_911342https://www.huffpost.com/entry/debt-ceiling-housing_b_911342#commentsDeficit Hysteria: Washington's War on the Younghttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-hysteria-washingt_b_882068
The inevitable result of austerity economics would be a plan to hand the next generation a nation with crumbling infrastructure, collapsing government services, and bleak economic prospects. It's an all-out assault on the future of the young.Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:16:51 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-hysteria-washingt_b_882068https://www.huffpost.com/entry/deficit-hysteria-washingt_b_882068#commentsAARP's Social Security Debt Ceiling Fearshttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/aarp-social-security-debt-ceiling_n_881305
While AARP says it is adamantly opposed to having Social Security in the debt ceiling discussion, the group is open to separateTue, 21 Jun 2011 15:10:41 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aarp-social-security-debt-ceiling_n_881305https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aarp-social-security-debt-ceiling_n_881305#commentsJPMorgan Chase Fills Senator Mark Warner's Campaign Chesthttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/jpmorgan-fills-mark-warren-campaign-chest_n_877136
WASHINGTON -- During the first three months of 2011 employees of JPMorgan Chase piled in campaign contributions to the campaignThu, 16 Jun 2011 17:40:21 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jpmorgan-fills-mark-warren-campaign-chest_n_877136https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jpmorgan-fills-mark-warren-campaign-chest_n_877136#commentsThe "Debt Ceiling" Versus "Jobs Creation" Debate: Not the Time for a Mistakehttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-debt-ceiling-versus-j_b_872369
It's important for the Obama White House, the 'Biden Group' and Democrats on Capitol Hill to stand firm for a budget deal that meets the demands of the middle class.Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:30:16 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-debt-ceiling-versus-j_b_872369https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-debt-ceiling-versus-j_b_872369#commentsAt the Deficit Table: Wingnuts, Wall Street & Wealthy But Not Women & Working Peoplehttps://www.huffpost.com/dave-johnson/deficit-commission-_b_866542.html
In DC the elite are gathered around tables discussing budget cuts, but not jobs to cure a deficit largely caused by a lack of jobs and tax cuts. Not at the table: women, working people, the poor or any semblance of democracy.Tue, 24 May 2011 19:42:28 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/dave-johnson/deficit-commission-_b_866542.htmlhttps://www.huffpost.com/dave-johnson/deficit-commission-_b_866542.html#commentsThe U.S. Must Learn How to Spend Smarterhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-us-must-learn-how-to_b_861121
Making across-the-board cuts to government programs to lower the deficit is tempting, but it won't foster the economic growth needed to realize our deficit reduction goals.Thu, 12 May 2011 12:42:07 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-us-must-learn-how-to_b_861121https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-us-must-learn-how-to_b_861121#commentsAlan Simpson Attacks AARP, Says Social Security Is 'Not A Retirement Program' (VIDEO)https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-aarp-social-security-retirement-program_n_858738
"It was never intended as a retirement program. It was set up in ‘37 and ‘38 to take care of people who were in distressMon, 09 May 2011 17:19:37 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-aarp-social-security-retirement-program_n_858738https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alan-simpson-aarp-social-security-retirement-program_n_858738#commentsTime for President Obama to Embrace His Debt Commission -- If It Is Not Too Latehttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-for-president-obama_b_855199
Republicans and Democrats alike think that Americans should have unlimited access to drugs and medical care the closer to death they get -- and no one should be asked to pay for it.Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:01:26 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-for-president-obama_b_855199https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-for-president-obama_b_855199#commentsObama's Plan To Cut Medicare Costs Lets Drug Companies Off The Hook -- Againhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-plan-to-cut-medicar_n_849294
Jacobs agrees that the time isn’t right. Frakt calculated that shrinking the list of covered drugs under Medicare would costThu, 14 Apr 2011 16:07:07 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-plan-to-cut-medicar_n_849294https://www.huffpost.com/entry/obama-plan-to-cut-medicar_n_849294#commentsIt's Sink or Swim Togetherhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-sink-or-swim-together_b_848766
Both American political parties must know that you cannot seriously reduce the debt and balance budgets without taking on Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements head-on, as does Simpson-Bowles. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:52:11 -0400https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-sink-or-swim-together_b_848766https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-sink-or-swim-together_b_848766#comments